3 On Your Side: Philly Bike Share Begins April 23
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- If you live or work in Philadelphia, chances are you've seen some odd looking bike racks popping up around town. And beginning next week hundreds of bikes will start appearing too. It's all part of Philly's brand new bike share program. 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan has the details.
Other cities have them, and beginning next Thursday Philly will offer a bike share program too. "There are hundreds of people who are really excited about bike share coming and after we launch there are going to be thousands of people who use it every day," says Andrew Stober, Chief of Staff of the Mayor's Office of Transportation and Utilities. He says "the bikes have 3-speeds, it has a basket on the front, a basket on the back, they have automatic lights that work all the time and they are professionally maintained."
The bikes can be found at around 70 bike stations that have been set up around the city. Stober says, "You'll take a bike, you'll ride it to one of the other stations, drop it off there and you'll be on your way."
A real-time map that you can access on your smart phone shows you where bikes are available to pick-up, or docks are available for bike drop off. Teadra Wilkins is happy hear that. She says, "Now I know there's other locations I'm able to drop if off to, so I don't have to worry about coming back to the same place that I picked it up."
You can purchase rides by the trip, $4 for 30 minutes or you can sign up online and get a monthly pass for $15 bucks. The program even accepts cash to accommodate those without a credit or debit card. Carniesha Kwashie in the Mayor's Office of Transportation and Utilities says, "Cashiers at 7-11 and Family Dollar are able to complete those transactions for you."
Stober says, if it's "too far to walk, too short or too inconvenient to ride public transit, or where it's too hard to park, bike share is for you."
Bike will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information visit: http://www.rideindego.com/
